The Emperor Waltz (1948)
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- Approved
- 1h 46min
- Comedy, Musical
- 02 Jul 1948 (USA)
- Movie
A brash American gramophone salesman tries to get Emperor Franz Joseph's endorsement in turn-of-the-century Austria.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Bing Crosby | ... |
Virgil Smith
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| Joan Fontaine | ... |
Johanna Augusta Franziska
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| Roland Culver | ... |
Baron Holenia
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| Lucile Watson | ... |
Princess Bitotska
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| Richard Haydn | ... |
Emperor Franz-Josef
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| Harold Vermilyea | ... |
Chamberlain
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| Sig Ruman | ... |
Dr. Zwieback
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| Julia Dean | ... |
Archduchess Stephanie
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Bert Prival | ... |
Chauffeur
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Alma Macrorie | ... |
Inn Proprietress
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Roberta Jonay | ... |
Chambermaid
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John Goldsworthy | ... |
Obersthofmeister
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Harry Allen | ... |
Gamekeeper (uncredited)
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Gene Ashley | ... |
Tyrolean Man (uncredited)
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| Franco Corsaro | ... |
Spanish Marques (uncredited)
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Paul De Corday | ... |
Hungarian Officer (uncredited)
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| Cyril Delevanti | ... |
Diplomat (uncredited)
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| Doris Dowling | ... |
Tyrolean Girl (uncredited)
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| Frank Elliott | ... |
Von Usedom (uncredited)
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Jac Fisher | ... |
Tyrolean Man (uncredited)
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Jack Gargan | ... |
Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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| William Haade | ... |
Guard Officer (uncredited)
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Len Hendry | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Jerry James | ... |
King's Guard (uncredited)
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James Logan | ... |
Beater (uncredited)
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Leo Lynn | ... |
Tyrolean Man (uncredited)
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Jean Marshall | ... |
Tyrolean Girl (uncredited)
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| Frank Mayo | ... |
Parliamentary Politician (uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
King's Guard (uncredited)
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John 'Skins' Miller | ... |
Tyrolean Man (uncredited)
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| Hans Moebus | ... |
Elderly Aristocrat (uncredited)
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Vesey O'Davoren | ... |
Butler (uncredited)
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Albert Petit | ... |
Elderly Aristocrat (uncredited)
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Albert Pollet | ... |
Elderly Aristocrat (uncredited)
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Renee Randall | ... |
Tyrolean Girl (uncredited)
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| Norbert Schiller | ... |
Assistant to Dr. Zwieback (uncredited)
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| Joan Staley | ... |
Child Violinist (uncredited)
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Count Stefenelli | ... |
Elderly Aristocrat (uncredited)
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| Robert R. Stephenson | ... |
Beater (uncredited)
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Eleanor Tennant | ... |
Tennis Player (uncredited)
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| James Vincent | ... |
Abbe (uncredited)
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Kathy Young | ... |
Tyrolean Girl (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Billy Wilder | ||
Written by
| Charles Brackett | ... | (written by) |
| Billy Wilder | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Charles Brackett | ... | producer |
Music by
| Victor Young | ||
Cinematography by
| George Barnes | ... | director of photography |
Editorial Department
| Robert Brower | ... | associate color director: Technicolor |
| Doane Harrison | ... | editorial supervisor |
| Natalie Kalmus | ... | color director: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Franz Bachelin | ||
| Hans Dreier | ||
Set Decoration by
| Sam Comer | ||
| Paul Huldschinsky | ||
Costume Design by
| Edith Head | ||
| Gile Steele | ... | (costumes: men) |
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Charles Gemora | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Hugh Brown | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.) |
Art Department
| Gene Lauritzen | ... | construction coordinator |
| Oliver C. Stratton | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stanley Cooley | ... | sound recordist |
| John Cope | ... | sound recordist |
Visual Effects by
| Farciot Edouart | ... | process photography |
| Gordon Jennings | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mal Bulloch | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ed Henderson | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| C.E. Richardson | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Fred True | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Lothrop B. Worth | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Joseph J. Lilley | ... | vocal arranger |
| Troy Sanders | ... | music associate |
| Charles Bradshaw | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Sidney Cutner | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Jakob Gimpel | ... | musician: piano solos (uncredited) |
| Louis Kaufman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| George Parrish | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leo Shuken | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Victor Young | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Donald Lubin | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Billy Daniel | ... | choreographer |
| Paul Elbogen | ... | technical advisor |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1948) (United States) (theatrical)
- Paramount Film Service (1948) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1949) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1948) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Film Service (1948) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Les Films Paramount (1949) (France) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Mexico (1948) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Argentina (1949) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Filmaktieselskapet Paramount (1949) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Filmaktieselskabet Paramount (1949) (Denmark) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Films (1949) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Paramount Filmes (1949) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Caroland (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2019) (Australia) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2021) (United States) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Traveling Salesman Virgil Smith wants to sell his Grammophones in pre-WWI Austria. To enhance this, he especially wants to sell one to Emperor Franz Joseph, but at first the Austrian palace guards think he is carrying a bomb. He meets the Countess Johanna von Stolzenberg-Stolzenberg and after the usual misunderstandings, falls in love with her, this is especially assisted by his dog Buttons. But the relation between a Countess and an ordinary U.S. citizen cannot work in Austria, that is the Emperor's opinion. Is he wrong ?
Written by Stephan Eichenberg |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Paramount's Crowning Entertainment Achievement! Bing's Best Songs! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,070,248 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Billy Wilder began shooting this film in 1946, soon after winning an Oscar for The Lost Weekend (1945). That film's great critical reception (and unexpected box-office success) gave Wilder more power and he spent a lot of time and money on this musical (which was his first color film). He was very dissatisfied with the result, however, and the release of the film was extensively delayed, perhaps for re-takes--Wilder liked to say he was hoping to delay its release as long as possible. It opened in Britain a month before its American debut, most unusually, and was a critical and box-office flop. In 1969, he told an interviewer, "I never want to see it again". His next film, A Foreign Affair (1948), opened in America only three months later. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Melanie Griffith/Little Feat (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Kiss in Your Eyes See more » |
| Quotes |
Princess Bitotska:
The Lafuentes have more of everything. In fact, most of their children were born with eleven fingers. See more » |